TIMES, THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2014 • 24 Bklyn. Board 4 Learns Bushwick Dog Run Proposal Was Nixed -CONTINUED FROM PG. 1- it’s run properly. According Maher, reasons the park will not get a dog run are limited space and the presence of too many trees. “When we redesign parks, we are very sensitive to trees, Maher said. He added, “Lots of trees are bad for dog runs locations. When we look at a park (for a dog run), we want an area free of trees or with as few trees as possible.” He explained that the parks department used to simply “just put down some wood chips and a chicken wire fence,” but “we’ve had some experience with this now,” Maher said. Though four things are necessary, location can be a sufficient factor in whether or not an area is deemed appropriate for a dog run. Irving Square Park was determined to not be an ideal location, according to Maher. “At Irving Square, we looked around and really didn’t find an appropriate spot,” he said. “Not every park is going to have an appropriate spot for a dog run,” he added. The first thing needed Maher said is an organized group to care for the park, maintain cleanliness and enforce the rules. The second factor, according to Maher is overwhelming community support and the use of that backing to raise the necessary funding. It “costs $450,000 to $600,000, depending on the location and the place,” to construct a dog run, Maher said. He went on to describe the process as beginning with a “dig down to take out top layer of soil so it can drain out,” Maher said. The Parks Department then will put on a finish level-surface, install a water source, a fence separating big dogs from little ones, and a dog vestibule. “The science of dog runs has really developed over the years,” Maher said. Some at the meeting questioned Maher about people in the community taking their small dogs to playgrounds, putting them on the slides and swings. “Dogs are not allowed in playgrounds,” Maher said. “They don’t belong in playgrounds period,” he said and noted that with only 30 park enforcement police officers for 877 parks in Brooklyn, communities need to take a part in maintaining parks. “If you observe something, call the police,” Maher said. Transportation issues Kicy Motley, Brooklyn borough director for community affairs for the Mayor’s office and Miller Nuttle, director of campaigns for Transportation Alternatives (TA) both came to the meeting to discuss Vision Zero and traffic safety in Bushwick. Motley announced two pedestrian safety workshops are coming to the borough. The first is tonight, at Plymouth Church in Brooklyn Heights, and another is scheduled for Apr. 29 at Brooklyn College. Both workshops are slated to begin at 6:30 p.m.N uttle came to the meeting seeking the community board’s support for a safer streets forum for Bushwick. Miller brought a letter outlining the safety issues in the neighborhood, which urged the board support the forum coming to the neighborhood and distributed fliers in English and Spanish. The letter from Transportation Alternatives was signed and supported by local officials and many area businesses. “The residential population of this neighborhood has skyrocketed in recent decades, but improvements in safer streets have not kept pace. This has resulted in dozens of serious crashes and fatalities over the past few years alone,” the letter read. According to Nuttle the forums are organized around the city to get feedback from local communities on where people feel safe, or unsafe on the streets. Following the environmental and transportation committee support of the TA forums coming to Bushwick, the board voted to recommend the decision and asked that a forum be organized. Community board elections A nominating committee was formed and met Apr. 10 to gather names and nominations for the positions to run for one year. Only Board 4 members were allowed to vote on the nominating list. No changes were made to the board’s leadership, save for Gladys Puggla becoming the new treasurer by edging out Avellar Hansley, 18-11. The only two positions that went to a vote were treasurer, and financial secretary, as Eliseo Ruiz was reelected 18-11, beating out Raul Rubio. Chairperson Julie Dent was reappointed, as were Martha Brown, Victoria Fernandez, Cirilo Nunez, Virgie Jones and Odolph Wright as first vice chair, second vice chair, recording secretary corresponding secretary and parliamentarian, respectively. Twenty-nine board members were present to vote in the election. Community Board 4 generally holds regular monthly meetings every 3rd Wednesday of the month at the Hope Gardens Multi-Service Center, located at 195 Linden Street. Meetings begin at 6:00 p.m. DOT Unveils Set Of Recommended Changes To R’wood Crossroads According to the DOT, two such accidents resulted in pedestrian fatalities and three other individuals suffered serious injuries. Earlier this year, proponents of the Vision Zero campaign joined elected officials and civic activists at the crossroads for a vigil remembering Ella Bandes, a 23-yearold woman who was fatally struck by an MTA bus at the location in February 2012. The rally also called on the DOT to implement measures that prevent future accidents resulting in deaths and serious injuries. By all accounts, the DOT plan unveiled on Monday aims to fulfill that request, as it calls for the elimination of several turning conflicts and the installation of devices to increase pedestrian safety and make passersby more visible to drivers. In all, the DOT seeks to prohibit the following five turning movements: • right turns from northbound Palmetto Street to eastbound Myrtle Avenue; • right turns from northbound Wyckoff Avenue onto eastbound Myrtle Avenue; • right turns from eastbound Myrtle Avenue to southbound Wyckoff Avenue; • left turns from westbound Myrtle Avenue to southbound Wyckoff Avenue; and • right turns from southbound Wyckoff Avenue onto westbound Myrtle Avenue. According to the DOT, none of the proposed changes will effect MTA bus operations. Palmetto Street between Myrtle/Wyckoff and St. Nicholas avenues is reserved for bus traffic only. Additionally, the DOT proposes installing five painted curb extensions at the three-way intersection. This will shorten the distance for pedestrians crossing the street and also aims to force drivers to slow down. A new high-visibility crosswalk will also be installed on the east side of the intersection across Myrtle and Wyckoff avenues. With new, brighter street lighting installed on the elevated M train structure above the intersection, the DOT is also considering installing flashing yellow warning lights on the elevated line’s beams to further enhance both pedestrian and driver safety. It was noted that the DOT will work with the Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District to maintain the painted intersections after they are installed. Additionally, the DOT Safety Education Department will visit the Ridgewood area and distribute materials on pedestrian safety; it was noted that the DOT observed many jaywalkers in studies at the location. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 1- This clip of the DOT PowerPoint presentation on changes to the intersection of Myrtle Avenue, Wyckoff Avenue and Palmetto Street in Ridgewood show five turns which the agency proposes to eliminate in the name of pedestrian and vehicular safety. To view a PowerPoint presentation on the proposed improvements, visit www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/p df/2014-04-21-myrtle-wyckoffpalmetto. pdf. The matter was discussed further at Tuesday’s (Apr. 22) Community Board 5 Transportation and Public Transit Committees meeting in Glendale. Details about the session will be included in next week’s issue. If You See Breaking News On Your Block... Contact The Times Newsweekly Call 1-718-821-7500 • Email [email protected]
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